Christmas wish 2022

WHAT do you wish in a crappy year?

And I mean crappy for most Filipinos.

For poor people who do not have dollar accounts, plural.

For people who complain about the price of onions.

For people who are likely to spend their Christmas bonus before they could receive it.

***

2022 is really a great year for me.

I spent New Year in Northern England.

Most of January in Sweden.

February in Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Germany.

I was luxuriating in Cancun in March.

I was aurora borealis chasing in Iceland in April.

***

Mostly, I wrote while in New Jersey in May.

And in November, the writing effort was greatly rewarded by not one, but two, Palanca awards.

In June, I was enjoying Machu Picchu, and checking off South America from my bucket list.

In July, I made it to the Philippines, and started my simple life in my hometown.

***

In August, I did a lot of local travel in Western Visayas—

Roxas City, Guimaras, and so on.

Then, construction work for a dramatic treehouse in my farm started.

It was slow, but that’s Philippines for you.

And slow is a problem of the poor.

I finished construction in October, and I even had spare money for the construction of dipping pools. 

Build, build, build.

***

Generally, I’m happy with what I have done at Hacienda Dom Pedro de Dumangas.

I’m not happy that it was built slowly, but I am so proud that it was done at all.

The treehouse called La Choza de Dom Pedro has already survived two typhoons including Paeng so I’m happy and mighty proud of it.

***

I was pretty busy in October and early November because of my town’s local festival.

I did a lot for the Haw-as Festival, even if the publicity for my events weren’t as big as I wanted.

Ah, but to hold a film fest, a cultural-literary talk, a youth forum, and to be a featured performer at a coronation pageant!

I mean, who can claim they have done as much?

Or can do as much?

***

In November, I turned the town on its head with a crazy fashion shoot in the public market.

It was crazy, but it was a crazy that can only come with money.

I mean, who pays a glam and tech team for a crazy shoot “just because I have money to burn”?

***

On November 30, I waltzed through the Palanca Awards night in the national capital with Mr. Universe 2022 as my sort of consort.

With a major national awards count of 28 (21 from the Palanca; and two awards for this year alone), I have solidified my claim as “the most decorated Ilonggo writer in history”.

So yeah, 2022 was a great year for me.

There is nothing more I can wish for!

***

Meanwhile, the world around me is sadly crumbling.

And there is not much I can do to save the sinking ship that is the Philippines of 31 million, plus the others that they drag down with them.

There seems to be no accountability on the part of the leaders that they chose.

People are hoodwinked in broad daylight.

Public funds are stolen in the guise of public service and welfare programs.

***

I am so glad that my candidates, and the Philippines, lost in the last election.

I have totally move on; and personally moved up.

Again, and again, I will say this so as to not let people forget their May 2022 stupidity: I am so relieved of responsibility to help save the Philippines now.

The ship may sink, and I can just say, Merry Christmas and good riddance!

***

There is no bitterness in my heart.

It’s all about mindset. Paradigm shift.

I used to be a Boy Scout.

I am too old for it now.

F*ck those ideas of serve God, country, and countrymen first!

***

New memo: “Put on your oxygen mask first before helping others.”

Version of the same: “Just take care of your own backyard.”

I’m definitely loving God more than ever.

But if people are not listening to my God, I am not helping them.

Service to God, yes; service to country, I do not know.

***

I mean, I may take arms to defend the Philippines in times of foreign invasion.

But do I really have to jump up and down if some wealthy and political Filipinos grab land and turn them into subdivisions so that people will have better homes?

Do I really have to feel for farmers who do not even profit from their rice production, and also had to feel the burden of P20/kilo “asa ka pa” rice?

Do I cry when a piece of onion is more expensive than the quarter kilo of pork?

***

I do not have much wish for Christmas 2022.

Only this: World Peace.

And may you have peace in your heart like I do.

Because, frankly, I am at peace… 

And I am rich!/PN